Final analysis of Bill 148 reveals $12 billion economic problem that the Ontario Government must resolve
Greater Sudbury, Wednesday, September 27, 2017 – Today, the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and the Keep Ontario Working (KOW) Coalition released two major reports that broadly capture the challenges associated with Bill 148 and the concerns of the employer community. The first report is the final economic impact analysis of Bill 148 by the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis’ (CANCEA), which was peer-reviewed by Professor Morley Gunderson of the University of Toronto.
CANCEA’s analysis reveals that if Government were to do nothing other than implement the minimum wage increase over five years instead of in the next 15 months, jobs at risk would decrease by 74 per cent in the first two years.
The analysis also indicates that while the proposed changes will see $11 billion in wage stimulus flow into the economy in the next two years, this will be dwarfed by a $23 billion impact on the province. That means there is a remaining $12 billion problem which will lead to jobs lost, added costs, and general damage to the Ontario economy.
“The evidence presented by CANCEA speaks to the unintended consequences that Bill 148 will have on Greater Sudbury’s economy,” said Tracy Nutt, Immediate Past Chair of the Board, Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce. “Government needs to recognize the impact of this legislation, especially in the more vulnerable regions of the province like Northeastern Ontario. That is why we are calling on government to slow down the implementation of Bill 148 and to amend the bill to avoid these consequences.”
CANCEA’s analysis finds that Bill 148 puts 2,200 jobs at risk in Greater Sudbury alone and will have a significantly greater impact on Northeastern Ontario than any other region of the province. This is in part because businesses in Northeastern Ontario are typically smaller and Small and Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs) are more exposed to the impacts of Bill 148.
“Today’s final report by CANCEA is clear, while the Government is correct to say that there will be a stimulus from Bill 148, it does not cover the $23 billion cost challenge for business in the first two years – a substantial amount that poses great risk to our economy and cannot be resolved through offsets alone,” said Karl Baldauf, Vice President of Policy and Government Relations at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “More must be done. The Ontario Government must resolve the economic challenges presented in Bill 148 through a combination of slowing down the implementation period, amending the legislation, and offsets. Business and government must work together to avoid unintended consequences and protect our most vulnerable.”
The Keep Ontario Working Coalition and CANCEA released interim findings of this analysis in August, ahead of final amendments being submitted for first reading of the legislation. To date, CANCEA’s work remains the only peer-reviewed economic analysis of Bill 148. In having been reviewed by Morley Gunderson, the work has benefited from one of the leading economists in Canada, who the Ontario Government has turned to on multiple occasions, such as during the Changing Workplaces Review which became the foundation for Bill 148.
“Our risk assessment of the Act is that there is more risk than reward for Ontarians despite the stated goal of the legislation in helping Ontario’s more vulnerable and the Ontario economy,” Paul Smetanin, President of CANCEA. “Given the risk of consolidating income and wealth inequality, putting about 185,000 people out of work, and the risks of small/medium businesses being exposed to their larger competitors, the unintended consequences are significant.”
In addition, the Keep Ontario Working coalition released a second report, The Flip Side of “Fair”, which showcases testimonials from employers and outlines how they will be impacted by the legislation. The report gives a voice to those businesses that have felt excluded from the committee process and policy discussion around this legislation. The testimonials all share a common theme, that the minimum wage increase and labour reforms will have serious consequences for their businesses and their communities.
“This Bill is forcing businesses to automate where possible, reduce labour/staffing, absorb part of the costs, and pass along a price increase to the customers (consumers) where possible. …The very people that you are purporting to help are the ones who are going to be hurt the most. This will be the inexperienced and/or unskilled in Ontario. As these jobs disappear, they will be pushed onto social assistance… and will remain in poverty.” – Guenther Huettlin, President and Owner at GH Manufacturing, Belleville, Ontario
The chamber continues to urge businesses to contact them with testimonials on how Bill 148 will affect them. Here are some of the things the chamber has already heard:
“I have fixed contracts with my clients, and payroll makes up more than 80% of my expenses. There’s no way my business can absorb a 32% increase in the minimum wage.” – Rob Bertuzzi, Reliable Cleaning Services, Greater Sudbury, Ontario
“It’s not just one change – it’s the combined effect of many changes and the fact that the burden is constantly increasing. When you add up the costs of leave days, increasing vacation time, skyrocketing hydro rates and red tape that continues to multiply, it’s almost to the point where it’s not worth being in business anymore.” – Rob Brouillette, City Welding, Greater Sudbury, Ontario
The KOW Coalition will continue to advocate that the government:
1. Consider the risks outlined in this economic impact analysis while also conducting their own analysis;
2. Implement broad amendments to Bill 148; and,
3. Slow down implementation to avoid unintended consequences and protect Ontario’s jobs, communities and our most vulnerable.
Click here to read the CANCEA report: https://sudburychamber.ca/cancea-final-report/
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For more information, please contact:
Bryan Heystee
Policy and Communications Manager
Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce
705-673-7133 ext. 224
705-677-5735 (cell)
[email protected]
www.sudburychamber.ca
The Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization that represents 850 businesses and through the participation of its member volunteers on committees and task forces, it works ‘as the Voice of Business’ to influence federal, provincial and local legislation affecting business.